IGP orders SARS operatives to wear uniforms with identification

Ibrahim Idris, inspector-general of police (IGP), has ordered operatives of the special anti-robbery squads (SARS) to wear uniforms with full identification pending the launch of new Federal-SARS uniform.

Jimoh Moshood, spokesman of the force, disclosed this in a statement after a briefing on the progress made on the overhaul of SARS.
Vice-President Yemi Osibanjo had ordered the IGP to overhaul the unit following persistent complaints and reports that border on allegations of human rights violations.
The statement read, “In the meantime, the Acting President has directed the National Human Rights Commission to set up a Committee that will conduct nation-wide investigation of the alleged unlawful activities of SARS in order to afford members of the general public the opportunity to present their grievances with a view to ensuring redress.”

The IGP renamed the police outfit federal SARS (FSARS) and ordered his operatives to go for psychiatric evaluation.
Represented by Habila Joshak, a deputy-inspector general, operations department, the IGP emphasised that the overhaul of SARS was beyond rhetoric and real reform was taking place.
The new update, however, included the setting up of a custody records management system for the overhauled unit throughout the country.

He explained that this system would contain the records of arrests, detentions and welfare details of suspects, noting that this system would discourage arbitrary arrest of people, and ensure that suspects are charged to court within 24 hours according to the law.
He said among other things that federal SARS operatives had been ordered not to attend to civil or commercial matters again. But strictly to armed robbery and kidnapping cases only.

Joshak added that the police had involved the services of psychologists and counsellors in the ongoing screening of its operatives.
Amaechi Elumelu, the deputy commissioner of police in charge of the IGP’s X-Squad, said the screening and mobilisation of FSARS operatives would not be business as usual again, as they will go through rigorous orientation, human rights training and other screening processes that will include the evaluation of their previous records on human rights. - TheCable

NAFDAC : More women abusing drugs to forget disappointments, sorrows

More women in Nigeria are getting involved in drug abuse from mixed concoctions to momentary “forget their worries and problems” of living.

Also, unsuspecting members of the public, particularly those who eat from roadside eateries and make shift ‘bukateria’ are getting hooked  on drugs without them knowing because some unscrupulous food vendors mix their delicacies with concoctions to induce addiction to their meals and boost sales.

The Assistant Director, Drug Demand Reduction Division (DDRD) of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Pharm.(Mrs) Clara Anyanwu, who disclosed these trends

to reporters at the weekend, identified “noodles” as one fast food such unscrupulous food sellers prepare with drugs and serve  customers.

Mrs. Anyanwu said this informed why some people would by – pass many locations and go some distances away to patronise a particular food vendor, whereas there are other food sellers nearby.

She spoke shortly after delivering a talk – shop on ‘abnormal drug use: the modern vices militating against elevation (of youths) by God,’ at the 2018 National Youth Convention of the Fresh Anointing International Church, Km 58, Lagos – Abeokuta expressway, Akinale, Ogun State.

Anyanwu revealed that the degree of youth and women involvement in drugs abuse is “scary and serious,” hinting that the official “standard statistics” on drugs abuse in the country and demography of people affected, would be made known soon by the appropriate Federal Government ministry.

She said Nigerians should “stop living in denial” over drugs abuse, saying aside tramadol which was banned because of its abuse, people are “mixing things” unimaginable and consuming them to get high and as a  escape from worries.

She lauded the church for initiating a programme where the youths were enlightened on the dangers, and identified, peers influence, ignorance, curiosity and wrong examples from parents as the factors driving drugs abuse in the country.

Over 2000 youths and children participated at the two day – long event, where an Operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) also enlightened the participants on the dangers of cyber crimes and the need to steer away from it lest they jeopardize their bright future.

The Church’s Bishop, Dr. Adegoke Itiola, said the church would continue to organise such programme to mould the youth to be on the right path so that they would be profitable to themselves, families, society and the nation. - The Nation

Inadequate manpower, fund paucity as threats to birth registration

It was not impossible that the media personalities at the Media Dialogue on Birth Registration held in Kano on August 15 and 16 did not know exactly what awaited them before their arrival at the Tahir Guest Palace venue.

But in the vast hall stood two rolled-up banners embossed with the photograph of parents happily displaying their new baby with clear messages: “Without birth certificate the naming ceremony is incomplete”, “Get your child a birth certificate today”, “Birth certificate is free for children aged 0-17 years”, “Birth certificate gives access to schools, hospitals, jobs and other social services”, “One birth certificate is valid for life”. At the bottom of the banners also depicted clearly that the messages were powered by the National Population Commission, European Union and UNICEF, ostensibly to rub in the importance attached to birth registration in Nigeria.

At this juncture, the media personalities at the Dialogue were in no more fuss with regard to the job at hand and the enormity of the task on their shoulders. But just in case they still harboured any fuss whatsoever, the UNICEF’s Communication Specialist, Mr. Geoffrey Njoku, cleared the air: He said the Dialogue was designed to, among other aims, “provide the media with information on the current situation of birth registration in Nigeria, work with media partners to develop story angles on birth registration and work with media partners to develop key messages on birth registration.”

UNICEF’s Child Protection Specialist, Mrs. Sharon Oladiji, took the floor soon after to make her presentation which left the over 50 participants at the Dialogue spell-bound.

Oladiji, who easily combined passion with expertise, averred that although birth registration is a global issue, it has become even more so for Africa and especially Nigeria.

“Birth registrars are trained to register births,” she said, while urging the academia, airports, seaports, border posts and local government offices to make use of the data provided by the relevant authorities.

“We supply data daily but they are not adhered to and this must not be allowed to continue if indeed the future wellbeing of Nigeria matters to all of us,” she also informed the media partners at the Dialogue.

“From the data at our disposal, 32million Nigerian children will be 5 years old by the end of 2018 and this situation calls for total support for UNICEF from all the sectors of the country, especially the traditional leaders and local chiefs who are mostly attached to the grassroots.”

Oladiji acknowledged the near dearth of facility that threatens birth registration in Nigeria in recent years. “According to a 2016 finding, there are a total of 24,890 health centers in Nigeria while there are only 7,499 health centers that are involved in birth registration activities,” she said.

“Meanwhile, there are only 32% registration recorded for Under-1 children so far this year and only 8% registration recorded for Under-5 children. We consider this a huge setback in a country where data is needed for monitoring population dynamics, can play a major role in our social and economic progress and ensure that resources are allocated to wherever they are needed, among other benefits.”

Oladiji expressed dismay that despite previous awareness campaigns on birth registration, over 62% of Nigerian children are delivered outside the health centers, accounting for Nigeria having the largest population of unregistered children born in Africa.

Aside from insufficient workforce at the centers, which sometimes makes two registrars cover 1,000 square kilometers, other challenges identified by Oladiji include slow digitalization process, instability in the trained registration staff and cultural beliefs. “It is amazing that we still encounter the traditional people who would not willingly submit their children for registration because of the belief that children are not to be counted,” the child protection expert remarked.

Inadequate funding has also proved a formidable stumbling block to the birth registration, as revealed by the Director of Vital Registration at the National Population Commission (NpopC), Hajia Habsat Hussaini.

“My office has made several representations to the government through the National Assembly but each time, we were always told ‘no money’,” she lamented in a regret-laden voice.

Hussaini’s submission could only have corroborated the popular notion that only when it is census time in Nigeria does the government have money to dispense for enumeration. The notion ignores the danger inherent in not regularly updating birth registration and virtually ignoring death registration but ironically still hoping to engage in meaningful national development.

The scary news is that only 3million children of 0-5 years have been registered so far this year, according to NpopC figure. The fact that the figure was recorded in only 4,641 centers suggests that there could be far more than the figure given, considering that many children may have been delivered outside the health centers.

In the belief that a child without a birth certificate legally does not exist, Mrs. Oladiji said the UNICEF would not give up in championing birth registration while hoping to work with all relevant stakeholders in Nigeria.

“We are kicking off a national campaign on September 20 and we hope to gain much ground in the campaign before end of the year,” she declared with a huge belief that a positive turnaround lies ahead.

All the media personalities at the event agreed with Oladiji that the task ahead is workable as it is achievable. Little wonder, they pledged their involvement in the looming national campaign in the interest of Nigeria’s future wellbeing. - TheCable

NiMet predicts thunderstorms, rains for Monday

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted influx of moisture and increased heat energy expected to produce thunderstorms and rains over most places in the country for Monday.

NiMet made this known in its Weather Outlook by its Central Forecast Office in Abuja on Sunday.

It envisaged Thunderstorms over Sokoto, Gusau and Kano in the morning hours and thunderstorms over most places in the afternoon and evening period.

It added that, day and night temperature in the northern states would be in the ranges of 28 – 30 degree Celsius and 20 – 22 degree Celsius respectively.

NiMet said that, moderate rains would be expected over Bauchi, Gombe, Mambilla Plateau, Jalingo, Jos and Abuja in the morning hours.

According to it, thunderstorms and rains are expected over the entire north central area in the afternoon and evening hours.

It said that, day and night temperature in the region would be in the range of 27- 29 degree Celsius and 21- 23 degree Celsius respectively, except for Jos that would be between 22 – 15 degree Celsius.

The agency predicted light rains over Uyo, Port-Harcourt, Calabar and Eket in the morning with moderate rains over most places in the southern states in the afternoon and evening hours,

NiMet said that, day and night temperature would be in range of 27and 28 degrees Celsius respectively.

Bandits threaten to unleash terror on Sokoto, Zamfara

Armed bandits have threatened to launch attack on four villages in Sokoto and other locations in neighboring Zamfara State.

Villagers confirmed that the bandits sent letters to villages of Ruwan Tsamiya and Kursa in Gandi district of Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

Similar letters were also dropped at villages of Kaiwar Dawa and Malela in the same district.

“The bandits particularly demanded huge amount of money from Alhaji Mani Shehu, a rich farmer in Ruwan Tsamiya,” a resident of the village, Mallam Zaidi told Daily Nigerian.

“The villagers are now planning to raise money for the bandits to avoid attack. We can’t call the bandits’ bluff because we saw what happened to other villages.”

A lecturer at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Mansur Buhari, disclosed that he received calls Saturday night from one of the villagers, lamenting about the bandits’ demands.

Reacting, Sokoto Police Command spokesperson, Cordelia Nwawe, explained that the police had not received the report.

“Theere are two mobile police units in the Gandi general area, hundreds of policemen are patrolling the area”, the image-maker said.

“Ask them to report the matter to police not journalists so that we take action.

“If they feel threatened, they should not hesitate to go to the IDP camp and settle for some time,” Nwawe advised. - Daily Post

APC reveals owners of intercepted weapons of mass destruction

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that the “weapons of mass destruction” intercepted in South Africa were owned by “desperate politicians and their political parties”.

The ruling party said the opposition were bent on deploying illegal, undemocratic and sinister means, including violence to manipulate elections.

This was contained in a statement on Sunday by Yekini Nabena, APC national publicity secretary.

Urging the Nigerian electorate to resist evil people, APC said: “Our call comes against the backdrop of the recent seizure of a Nigerian-bound ship detained in South Africa for carrying arms and explosives. Nigerians will also recall recent arms seizures by the Nigeria Customs Service.

“This is a red-flag security agencies must note and be alert to as political activities heighten in the leadup to coming elections.

“We invite the opposition to wake up to new realities where votes count and the people’s will prevail in all elections. We also call on all well-meaning Nigerians to support ongoing progressive efforts by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration to ensure that our elections are transparent, free, fair and credible.

“Finally, we call on the National Assembly to urgently do the needful by reconvening to consider and pass the 2019 election budget of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). We condemn any attempt to weaken INEC ahead of the 2019 election.” - Daily Post

I was sacked for refusing to rig election for PDP in 2015 – Ex-Police IG

Former Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has revealed why he was sacked by then President Goodluck Jonathan.

Abba claimed that his sudden removal from office in 2015 was due to his refusal to rig elections in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Osun State.

Recalling the circumstances that led to his premature retirement from service, Abba told Daily Trust that, “Believe me, I have always counted myself lucky. I think because of the little background I gave you about the strength of discipline in me, both personal and professional, I received my sack as a normal development. I was not shocked for a reason that I knew it would happen.

“Right from the time I started work as Inspector General of Police, I knew that I may not reach the date of my retirement, which would have been 2019, by which time I would have been 35 years in service and 60 years of age. I am saying this because the very first week I took over, we had the elections in Ekiti, that was August 2014. Arrangements had been made for the election by my predecessor and I think it was the same team that also did the Osun election, it was the same AIG.

“One of the leading stalwarts in the PDP then said to me: ‘IG (you know I was acting then) deliver Osun to us and we will confirm you quickly.’ I was shocked! That was when I knew that I may not last long in the office. Immediately, I said to myself, ‘How could I deliver when I am not an electorate?’ The voters are the ones to deliver, my own was to protect the whole process.

“Of course I said to myself that what happened to one of my predecessors (may his soul rest in peace), Adamu Suleiman, was going to happen to me, maybe I would never be confirmed. He was Inspector General of Police and till he left office he was not confirmed.

“So that is my approach; I accept things the way they come. I said to myself that I was going to leave that office without confirmation; but then, I went to Osun and did what I was supposed to do. Of course, having made up my mind that I wasn’t going to take the dictates of someone on what I had been doing for decades, I went to Osun, addressed the police officers who were very cheerful because they were seeing their IGP for the first time. I told them to go and do what the law protect the electorate, all other stakeholders, INEC officials, observers, and of course, any other person that had the right to be around the polling areas, collation areas.” - Daily Post

Peter Obi: Nigeria’s economy is on life support

 Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra state, says the country’s economy is on life support because of a rising debt profile. 
NAN quoted Obi as saying this on Saturday while speaking at a conference organised by the Summit Bible Church in Abuja.

The country’s debt profile is estimated at N22 trillion.
The ex-governor also attributed the high unemployment rate to bad governance.
Obi reportedly asked voters to weed out people who lack the technical know-how to revamp the nation’s economy.

“Our educational system is too low. Our per capita is 2000, and since our population growth is higher than the growth of our GDP, the consequences in the future will be higher than what it is today,” Obi said.
“China adopted the millennium development goals (MDGs), when it was told that it had the poorest people in the world and it took over four hundred million people out of poverty.”

He urged Nigerians to weed out people who lack the technical know-how on how to revamp the economy and render good services.
Obi said people with ideas and capacity should be brought on board to mange the country’s resources.
On his part, Andy Osakwe, convener of the programme, asked the youth to “take their destinies into their hands” by voting and presenting competent representatives.

“A lot of people tend to blame other people for the current state of our nation; it is time for us to take ownership of our condition and also our destiny,” Osakwe said.
“Even though different generations have taken different positions as to who is responsible for the not-so-great status of Nigeria today, there is a consensus on the fact that Nigeria already has within its borders all that is required to become one of the most secure and prosperous countries in the world.

“Therefore, it doesn’t matter if you were born in the 30s or in this millennium, as long as you are alive today; you have a responsibility to contribute towards making Nigeria great.
“While we may be disappointed with the present state of our nation, we must resolve together to rise above the mediocrity of the past, so that we can start moving forward to our place of glory.” - TheCable

Edwin Clark : Buhari should sack Sports Minister, Dalung

Ijaw leader, Edwin Clark has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, for allegedly discrediting Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for recognising Amaju Pinnick-led Board of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).

The elder statesman, who made the call in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, said reports of “disloyalty and parochial utterances” credited to Dalung in various media reports were embarrassing.

He further said there was no sense in the minister of sports discrediting a laudable action that saved Nigeria from ban by the world football governing body, FIFA.

“This was an action taken by the Acting President at a very critical stage of our football history to avert FIFA’s ban on Nigeria.

“Osibanjo restored to the global platform of honour, an action commended by all and sundry, locally and internationally.

“If this action was not taken by the Acting President at the time he did, it will have been a disgrace and a setback for Nigerian football.

“But here is Mr Dalung, Nigeria’s Minister of Sports, who unfortunately, thinks and behaves differently,’’ he said.

Clark added that the action of the vice president called for commendation and not condemnation.

“Instead of rejoicing and towing the line of the government under which he is serving, he has unfortunately showed total disrespect and disloyalty for the Acting President and the government in his open show of ignorance and incompetence,’’ he said.

Clark quoted Dalung as saying, “as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria who took oath of office to defend the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I will prefer to stand with the Rule of Law, instead of the opinion of men.

“We are a constitutional democracy and the doctrine of separation of powers is the foundation of democratic experience.

“Therefore, the Rule of Law is the only mechanism that guarantees liberty and freedom of citizens.

“This administration is elected on the change mantra, meaning that impunity has no accommodation anywhere.

“So, Nigerians must learn to believe and practice the doctrine of the Rule of Law. I believe we shall overcome this if we remain within the confines and dictates of the laws of our country.’’

Clark noted that the decision taken by Osibanjo was well informed, noting that he is a Professor of Law, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and former Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice of Lagos State.

He stressed that Osibanjo had for decades, taken the oath of Office to defend the same Constitution and the Rule of Law.

“I also swore to the same oath when I qualified as a lawyer 53 years ago. What is the minister talking about defending the constitution and obeying the rule of law?

“After reading what the Honourable Minister says, one is left to wonder in whose interest he is serving, because it is obviously not in the interest of government and the Nigerian people.

“He never showed any concern whether Nigeria was banned by FIFA or not, except his own interest.

“For instance, the minister knows that Mr Chris Giwa had been banned for five years by FIFA, yet, he put him on the list of a 15-man delegation to FIFA in Switzerland.

“Another clear case is when Mr President directed the Department of State Services (DSS), to flush out Mr Chris Giwa and his subordinates from the Glass House, Dalung was not only believed to have encouraged Giwa’s return.

“He is reported to have facilitated the resurrection of the leadership feud within the NFF, which undermines the great successes of the Amaju Pinnick-led NFF on the nation’s towering football engagements,’’ he said.

According to Clark, in the overall interest of the future of football, and for Nigeria to maintain its position as the largest country in Africa, the Ministry of Sports is not the place for the likes of Dalung.

He noted that given Nigeria’s present status, disloyalty, indiscipline, arrogance and mediocrity should not be condoned in any area of public service.

“The legal profession which I have cherished and belong to investigate all my adult life cannot be ridiculed by certain persons who are bereft of character and honour required of public officers.

“One should expect that the minister should strive to see how permanent peace will be restored to Nigerian Football administration, particularly now that he has set up a reconciliation committee.

“He should not be personifying the disagreement within the NFF, but seek out of court settlement in Jos High Court, where the Supreme Court referred the matter to.

“The Supreme Court did not give any definite judgment in favour of anybody and therefore, it was very improper of the minister to drag in the Supreme Court in his offensive statement.

“It must be emphasised that, the unity of Nigeria is very paramount, and football is one of the contributory factors to this unity,’’ he said.

Clark said, “as an elder statesman of 91, an incurable football enthusiast, and having remained so since my youth, and my days as a student in England, I was a strong supporter of Manchester United, until I returned to Nigeria in 1965.

“I continued to show my interest in football and other sporting activities from primary to secondary school levels when I was appointed Commissioner for Education in the old Midwest State.

“Then, football and other sporting activities were domiciled in the Youth Directorate which was directly under my supervision as Commissioner for Education.

“It was our policy then to develop football and other sporting activities and our footballers and athletes excelled in all competitions.

“In order to develop sporting activities, therefore, the School of Physical Education was established at Afuze, now Michael Imoudu College of Physical Education, Afuze in the then Owan Division, now Owan Local Government Area of Edo.

“This is what I expected a Sports Minister who knows his onions to concentrate on.” - Daily Post

Immigration minister blocks Britons who sought help on Twitter

The immigration minister blocked at least two British citizens on Twitter when they asked for her assistance after the Home Office failed to respond to their complaints or appeals from their MPs.

Caroline Nokes’ action, which means the people concerned are unable to read her tweets or contact her, were described by a leading immigration lawyer as suggesting “complete indifference”.

Stephen Buck was blocked from following Nokes or seeing her tweets on 11 August after he sent her three tweets in four months, asking for help to prevent his long-term partner, Rusty Goodall, from being deported to Australia. It took the Home Office 13 months to refuse Goodall’s application to extend his visa, during which time the couple received no update on his case.

“I was nothing but polite in my approaches, but having tried all other avenues available to us (ie contacting the Home Office directly, asking our MP for help) and still feeling as though we were in a position where nobody was doing anything and nobody cared about us, contacting Nokes on Twitter felt like the only option left to try and get somebody in power to listen,” Buck said.

“The fact that the only response to these pleas to one of the few people who could make a difference in our case was to block me, was truly upsetting, frustrating and insulting.”

John Holden, a British citizen who lives in the UK with his Filipino wife, son and three adopted children, was blocked by Nokes on the same day as Buck after also asking for help.

“The Home Office have refused to issue my British children with British passports: they say we need to change the children’s Philippine passports to their new adopted surnames first,” he said.

“The problem is that the Philippine authorities won’t do that unless we take the children out of school and return to the Philippines for a process that could take up to 18 months, during which I would have to readopt children who are already mine and are already British.

“The Home Office has been completely deaf to my appeals and complaints, even though they’re acting against their own guidelines.

“The minister’s Twitter page is a platform that enables two-way communication, and I did nothing more than politely – and always respectfully – request her to meet with my MP.

“My appealing directly to the minister was nothing more than a desperate plea when the feeling of helplessness became overbearing. To be blocked for no apparent reason merely compounded the feeling of despair at a time when it felt all hope was lost.”

Syed Naqvi, the head of the immigration department at ITN Solicitors, said: “It is concerning that an applicant has been barred from contacting Ms Nokes on Twitter for simply requesting information pertaining to his case. Ms Nokes’ actions are overzealous and certainly not acceptable in a democratic society.

“Her actions also smack of a complete indifference to the problems faced by the applicants and their families. How can she claim to be able to address the problems with our immigration system when she is not even prepared to listen to its service users?”

Andrew Chadwick, a professor of political communication at Loughborough University and the director of the Online Civic Culture Centre, described Nokes’ decision to block Bucks and Holden as “questionable”.

“There is a strong culture of transparency and publicness on Twitter,” he said.

“Effectively, when a politician blocks a member of the public – and in this case one who appears to have been acting in a civil way – they’re saying they simply don’t want to hear what the person has to say, and they’re not interested in that person’s problems, under any circumstances.

“That seems to me to be questionable behaviour for a politician. Surely they can do better.”

The Home Office said: “Twitter is not an appropriate medium to discuss individual cases. Caroline Nokes passed on correspondence through the correct channels.” - The Guardian 

Plateau: Gunmen kill Speaker’s head driver, one other

Unidentified gunmen have killed Mr Azi Magaji, the head driver to the Plateau House of Assembly Speaker, and Mr Edward Ankpa, a security personnel with the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH)

DSP Terna Tyopev, the Plateau Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Jos.

Tyopev said the killing  occurred Saturday night in  Zarazong community of Jos North Local Government Area of the state.

Magaji was walking by when he was attacked by the gunmen.

“Last night, at about 9.p.m, we received a distress call that there were sporadic gunshots at Zarazong area of Jos, a community that houses Jos University Teaching Hospital( JUTH). Immediately the Police mobilised to the area.

” On arrival Mr Azi Magaji, the driver to the Speaker and Edward Ankpa, a security guard with JUTH were found dead.

“They were immediately rushed to JUTH. They  were confirmed dead by the doctor on duty,” he said.

The PPRO said Messrs Kopdi Monday and Nenman Popdak, security men on duty at JUTH Gate 4, were also found with gun shots and were rushed to the same hospital where they are currently taking treatment.

The image maker said investigation to unravel those behind the dastardly act is on top gear and asked any member of the public  with useful information to make it available to the Police.

He urged residents to be calm and law abiding as the Police would get to the root of the attack.

DSS BEGINS MASS RELEASE OF DETAINEES

The new leadership of the Department of State Security (DSS) may have started making good its promise to review cases of all detainees in its custody, according to indications yesterday.

Seven Ijaw youths from Bayelsa State who were arrested two years ago and locked up in the organization’s cell since then were yesterday set free in Yenagoa.

The agency’s newly appointed Acting Director -General, Mr. Mathew Seiyefa, told reporters at his maiden press conference two weeks ago that he would review the cases of detainees with a view to setting free those who are not supposed to be held.

The seven Bayelsa men were brought from the DSS Headquarters in Abuja to Yenagoa at the weekend and released to their families who had gathered outside the agency’s office in the state capital to receive them.

Some of the suspects shed tears of joy in the warm embrace of their friends as they walked into freedom.

The suspects looked unkempt with overgrown beards, rough skin and dirty clothes.

One of them, who identified himself as Clinton Ohaigbofa, said suspects held without trial were being massively released across the country.

He hails from Ebedebiri in Ogbia Local Government Area.

He said they were held in underground cells in Abuja and went through untold hardship.

They were never charged to court, he said.

Narrating how they landed in DSS detention, he said: “We didn’t do anything. We were arrested on May 24th, 2016. We were taken to the JTF headquarters in Opolo and were later transferred to DMI, Abuja.

“After interrogation, we were transferred to Defence Intelligence Agency. On August 26, 2016, we were transferred to the Department of State Service, Abuja. We stayed there for over two years.”

Reliving their ordeals in the DSS cell, he said: “They treated us badly. We were held in an underground cell. They gave us little bread in the morning, little rice in the afternoon and a morsel of semovita in the evening.

“Each portion of food cannot satisfy a two-year old baby. They deprived us of everything. They didn’t even take us to court. There was no freedom to even see light.  They subjected us to severe punishment. They kept us hungry and deprived us of medication. Suspects are being released massively because of the new DSS boss. I don’t know the actual number released so far. But we thank the new DSS boss.” - The Nation

Biafra referendum : Ohanaeze fumes over arrest of IPOB women

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo yesterday deplored the recent arrest of  112 members of the women wing of the  proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)  and their subsequent arraignment in court for ‘unlawful assembly’ and ‘treasonable felony’.

The Igbo socio-cultural group said the women’s arrest amounted to double standard by government.

The women were arrested following their protest in Owerri, Imo State, demanding a referendum and the whereabouts of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

They were let off on Friday after the charges against them were dropped.

However, an unimpressed Ohanaeze said there was no basis to arrest the women in the first instance.

“Boko Haram loot, plunder, kidnap but the government negotiates with them, spending unappropriated and undisclosed sums! Yet IPOB is proscribed for just speaking up. Arewa youths spoke treason and were defended by Governors and treated with privilege,” President General of Ohanaeze, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, said in a statement.

Nwodo who said he is currently recuperating outside the country also wondered why IPOB remains proscribed while, herdsmen and their sponsors “move about freely, reeling out new threats, occupying Southern and Middle Belt farms forcibly, with the law enforcement agents either aiding them or intentionally looking away.”

He added: “churches are invaded, priests killed, yet no one is arrested. Thousands are killed; thousands are rendered homeless, no one cares. IDPS are established only when the displaced come from a favoured section of the country.

“No wonder our security chiefs are appointed on the basis of where they come from. Any Igbo who is not angry at the situation in the country today must have his head re-examined. Now, they contemplate Operation Python Dance 3 without dealing with the carnage of Operation Python Dance 2 where UN rules of engagement were flagrantly violated. Who won’t be angry under these circumstances?

“The provocation, double standards, and subjection to servitude far outweigh the denigration their false propaganda subjected us to.”

Nwodo asked Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State not to allow his anger at IPOB’s verbal provocations override his paternity.

He said: “Borrow a leaf from me. I am abroad and emerging from theatre for a mild surgery and I have read how it is being said that Ohanaeze and the South East governors masterminded you to detain our sisters, but note that the false propaganda did not stop me from directing Ohanaeze National Publicity Secretary to condemn the detention.

“The provocation, double standards, and subjection to servitude far outweigh the denigration their false propaganda subjected us to.

“Never again shall we Igbo, at this critical time, shoot ourselves again on the foot. No matter how provocative, incendiary and unruly IPOB may be, they are our children. Aggrieved children can sometimes lose their guard. May our endurance not be stretched to the point where it challenges Hooke’s law on elastic limit.” - The Nation